Cheam
Major Settlement in the Parish of Cheam
Historical Forms
- Cegeham 675 BCS 13th
- Cheham 933 BCS697 13th
- Cegham 967 BCS1195 13th
- Ceigham t.EdConf KCD896 c.1150
- Ceiham 1086 DB
- Cheiham 1199 Cur 1200 FF 1225 Ass
- Cheyham 1254 FF 1291 Tax 1316 Ch 1428 FA
- Westcheiham, Estcheiham 1225 Ass
- Estcheyham 1332 SR
- Estkeyham 1279 Ass
- Chayham 1226 ClR 1279 Ass
- Chaiham 1232 Pat
- Est Cheham 1508 FF
- Estchaym, Westchaym 1544 HMCvii
- Cheyme 1569 FF
- Chayme 1589 Moulton
- Cheam 1680 IndexVillaris
- Cheham al. Cheame 1722 Recov
Etymology
Ekwall (Studies 67) takes the first element of this name to be from a root *kaga or *kagi , related to Norw dialectal kage ,'low stumps, small tree,' Swed dialectal kage , 'stumps.' A derivative is the German kegel , 'cudgel,' etc., to which there may have been a related word in OE such as would explain Cheal (L), æt cegle 852 (c. 1200) BCS 464. It would be related to English dialectal cag , 'stump.' See further Hellquist s. v. kägel . The meaning of the Sr place-name would then be 'ham(m) by the place of stumps or underwood.'